Again and again efforts were
made to clear the magazine, but the smoke as often drove the men back.
By this time the whole of the fore part of the lower deck was on fire,
but owing to the ports being closed and all circulation of air
prevented, the flames did not rise with the rapidity which would
otherwise have been the case. The fear was that, the heels of the masts
being consumed by the fire, the masts themselves might fall.

Still they stood right gallantly, carrying their widespread canvas, and
urging on the ship to the wished-for shore.

By this time all communication with the fore part of the ship was cut
off. The crew were gathered aft, still actively employed in fighting
the flames by heaving down water. But foot by foot they were driven
towards the stern.

At length the devouring element burst through all control, and rushed up
the fore-hatchway, rising triumphantly as high as the foreyard. Yet the
ship kept on her way.

The men remained firm to their duty. Now, not only from the fore, but
from the main hatchway, the flames were seen to ascend, but for some
time, the courses having been thoroughly wetted, they stood still urging
on the ship towards the land.

Time went on. The fire had commenced at seven in the morning, it was
now several hours past noon. For all that period the crew had been
fighting desperately with the fiery element for their lives. Anxiously,
with straining eyes, they gazed at the land. On either side a dark mass
of smoke ascended before them, and blew away to leeward, while the lurid
flames rose beneath it, striving furiously for victory over the masts
and spars, sails and rigging. It seemed like a miracle that the masts
should stand in the midst of the hot furnace which glowed far down the
depths of the ship. All were aware that at any moment one of several
fearful events might occur. The wind might shift and prevent the ship
reaching the land ahead, or a gale might spring up and cast the ship
helplessly upon the rocks, or a calm might come on and delay her
progress, or the masts, burnt through, might fall and crush those on
deck, or, still more dreadful, a spark might reach the magazine, and her
immediate destruction must follow.

Still the officers and crew strove on, though they well knew that no
human power could extinguish the raging flames, which with sullen roar
came nearer and nearer to where they stood.

An alarm was given that the mizenmast was on fire in th